Psychic Blues, new book by skeptic Mark Edward, reviewed by NY Times

But what Mark Edward Wilson (he doesn’t use his last name) lacks in professional success, he is trying to make up for in intellectual respectability. In his messy yet fascinating new book, “Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium” (Feral House), Mr. Edward, 61, comes clean about the tricks that he has used to dupe people since he began working the Los Angeles magic scene in the 1970s. His book is a strange mishmash of self-pity, self-justification and genuine repentance — and a compelling look at the disputed territory where entertainment meets religion, where some practitioners actually think they can practice both at the same time.

In an interview this week, Mr. Edward said that after years of sympathizing with the skeptics but making money from people’s gullibility, he felt he had to choose sides.

“My conscience — I could no longer do it,” Mr. Edward said. “I’d been walking both sides of the line. My magician friends” — many of them skeptics — “thought I was selling out to the psychics, and the psychics thought I was selling out to the skeptics.”

Source: New York Times

This was a mixed review where the reviewer pointed out that no new secrets of the psychics were revealed. But these secrets WILL be new to MANY people who simply have no idea how psychics work (it’s not paranormal, I’ll tell you that much.)

Mark just finished up speaking spots at Dragon*Con, the world’s largest fantasy/sci-fi convention in Atlanta where his session on mentalism resulted in a packed room of both skeptics and paranormal enthusiasts. Perhaps the book does the same and will reach out to those curious about psychics on both sides of the fence.

He’s still a performer-for-hire, like any other mentalist, which is what a lot of people seem to be missing.

Damon

September 5, 2012 at 10:10 PM

I saw Mark’s performance at skeptrack at Dragoncon. It mirrored his book well. I think the NY times review missed the point. To me, he is dead on. One audience member was skeptical of his performance. He replied to her saying, that’s the point. “This is skeptrack. I have no magical powers.” despite his plain statement, she continued to doubt his psychic abilities. Duh! Of course Mark revealed no new secrets, there are none to reveal. Cold reading is exactly what it has been for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years! I applaud Mark for “coming clean” and joining our side. His book reflects that journey. Hopefully, that point will not be missed!